Magnet carrying toothbrush



July 9, 1957 COHEN 2,798,241

MAGNET CARRYING TOOTHBRUSH Filed March 1, 1956 etimia 74:? J7 h 24 E7 X a3 2O INVENTOR.

TOBY COHEN BY 24 HTTURNEY United States Patent 2,798,241 MAGNET CARRYING TOOTHBRUSH Toby Cohen, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application March 1, 1956, Serial No. 568,785 1 Claim. (Cl. 15143) This invention relates to a magnetic holding device and particularly concerns a toothbrush provided with means for magnetically holding the toothbrush to a metal support.

Certain toothbrushes are provided with a flexible gum massage tip at one end of the toothbrush handle. This tip generally projects out from the broad side of the handle a distance equal to or greater than the toothbrush bristles.

In the usual bathroom fixture provided for holding toothbrushes a plurality of apertures are provided through which the brush handles are inserted. When a toothbrush has a massage tip, neither the tip nor bristles will pass the narrow aperture in the fixture so that a need has arisen for providing some means for holding toothbrushes where no suitable fixture for support thereof is provided.

The present invention has as a principal object the provision of a toothbrush of the type described with a magnetic means for holding the toothbrush to a metal support such as a metal wall of a medicine chest, a metal frame of a mirror, and the like. The metal support must, of course, have a magnetic iron or steel content to be effective as a support for a toothbrush as described.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rear side of a toothbrush including a magnet.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view of a modification embodying the invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the magnetic element used in the embodiment of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end view of a toothbrush secured to a metal support by the means of the magnetic element of Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a toothbrush including another position for a magnet.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 7 showing another modification of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the magnetic element of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an end view of a toothbrush supported on a metal wall by means of the magnetic element of Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a side view of the toothbrush of Fig. 1 supported on the side of a metal cabinet.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a magnet embedded in a toothbrush handle.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a rectangular metal block 20 is embedded or inset in an aperture or recess 21 centrally located in the elongated plastic toothbrush handle 22. The block is a highly magnetizedbar magnet and is flush with the rear broad side or surface S of the handle. At end 23 of the handle are bristles 24 and at end 25 is located the flexible massage tip 26. The tip 26 extends out from the front surface F of the handle a distance at 2,798,241 Patented July 9, 1957 least as great as the extent of bristles 24 from the head of the brush.

In Fig. 11 is shown the manner in which the toothbrush is supported on the steel wall 27 of a cabinet by the magnetic attraction between permanent magnet 20 and the wall 27.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the permanent magnet 30 has a trapezoidal cross section. Side 31 is wider than side 32 and side 33 is inclined to sides 31 and 32. Side 33 is offset from side S of the handle. Fig. 5 shows how the toothbrush is supported at an angle to the wall 27, to permit free circulation of air around the brush and make it easier to grasp the handle to remove the toothbrush from the wall. Sides 31 and 32 are both wider than the handle 22 so that the toothbrush stands out from the wall.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the permanent magnetic block 20' is flush with side 34 of the handle 22 which permits a lateral securing of the toothbrush toya steel support.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 the permanent magnet 35 is shaped like magnet 30 and is inset laterally in the handle 22 like magnet 20 in Figs. 6 and 7. The inclined side 33 is disposed at an angle to the rear side S of the handle. Side 33 abuts wall 27 so that the bristles 24 are downwardly inclined. This assists drainage and drying of the bristles after use. The same beneficial effect is obtained from the arrangement of Fig. 5. The magnet blocks 20, 20', 30, 35 may be force-fitted in slots or recesses in the handle or may be cemented in place. The recesses are preferably disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle. Although magnets 30 and 35 are preferably inset in recesses in the handle, they may if desired be secured to the handle by cement or otherwise without being inset therein. While the bar magnets are generally rectangular, they may be oval, cylindrical or U-shaped provided that each has at least one fiat side for abutment with a flat metal support. It is also possible to embed the magnet within the handle so that no side thereof is exposed, as shown in Fig. 12.

It is to be understood that the magnet may be made of any suitable material such 'as steel, iron, carbaloid, Alnico, etc., and the shape of the toothbrush may also be varied as desired and be provided with or without the massaging tip (26).

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

In a toothbrush, the combination comprising an elongated handle, bristles secured to said handle adjacent one of its ends and extending laterally from one side thereof, and a permanent bar magnet secured to said handle, said magnet having a fiat side offset from said handle and inclined to the bristle carrying side of said handle, whereby the bristles may extend downwardly and drain properly when said flat side of the magnet engages a vertical supporting surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,476,779 Taub Dec. 11, 1923 1,831,393 Pierce Nov. 10, 1931 2,141,969 Benz Dec. 27, 1938 2,268,023 Dunn Dec. 30, 1941 2,385,859 Jacobson Oct. 2, 1945 2,414,653 Lookholder Jan. 21, 1947 2,594,955 Markowitz Apr. 29, 1952 2,642,999 McPherson June 23, 1953 

